Filtering means



y 1933- T. A. SCHOENLAU 1,919,805

FILTERING MEANS Filed Oct. 11, 1930 FIG. 2

BY My $04 ATTORNEYS Patented July 25, 1933 UNITE ATES PAT-NT. OFFECETHEODORE A. SCHOENLAU, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI FILTERING MEANS Thisinvention relates to improvements in filtering means for liquid coolingsystems, and more particularly to an improved filter for location in thewater circulating system 45 of antomotive internal combustion engines.

I am aware that various attempts have been made in the past, to providea success ful accessory filter for the water circulating systems ofautomotive and like engines, but

ll so far as I am aware none of the devices heretofore available hasprovided the requisite degree of efliciency in the removal of solidssuspended in the circulating llquid stream, nor has provided a devicewhich, no matter if neglected for long intervals of time, yet will notinterrupt to any serious degree, the flow of circulating water. Certainof the devices heretofore provided, have been characterized by thedifliculty of removing the accumulation of filtered solid mattertherefrom.

In accordance with the foregoing, it is an object of the presentinvention to provide a simple, rugged, inexpensive and yet efficientdevice which will serve as a filter for the separation of suspendedsolids such as dirt, scale, rust, etc., which normally tend to accumulate in the jacket and radiator of automotive engines.

A further object of the invention is to construct a device of the typenoted, in such a manner that the solid matter accumulated as a result ofthe filtering action of the device, is automatically removed from thenormal path of the circulating water, whereby to permit an appreciableaccumulation of the undesirable suspended substance without impairingthe circulation in the system.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a filtering device ofthe type noted, of such a nature that it is not necessary to disturb thefluid connections leading into and away from the device in order toeffect cleaning thereof.

The foregoing and other objects will appear from the following detaileddescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawing of apresently preferred embodiment of the invention, and wherein likecharacters denote corresponding parts in the several views, and inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a view showing a portion of a motor and a radiator with adevice of the present invention located in the water line 5i connectingthe cooling jacket of the motor, with the radiator, and Fig. 2 is avertical sectional elevation through the filtering device appearing inFig. 1.

Referring now by characters of reference to the drawing, a fragmentaryportion of a Water-cooled motor block is indicated at 3 and is providedwith an outlet pipe 4 which, according to usual practice, is connectedto an inlet connection 5 to the radiator, a fragmentary shell portion ofwhich appears at 6. My preference is so to construct the device of thepresent invention, that it may be inserted, without material alterationin these parts as they are normally related, m in fact the device asillustrated is so proportioned as to be applicable to any standard makeof automobile, in a few minutes time. According to the illustratedexample, the device consists of a container 7 which is by preference ofcylindrical form and provided with a nipple 8 for an inlet connection,and a nipple 9 aligned therewith for an outlet connection, theseconnections being disposed respectively near the upper opposite end wallportions of the container so that connection may be eflected into andout of the container 7 in any suitable manner such as by flexiblecouplings '10.

Disposed within, and shown as consti- 85 tuting an extension of thenipple 8, is a flared induction tube 11, provided with a plurality ofopenings 12, the induction tube being of increasing diameter as itapproaches the outlet of the container, and the openings 12 being bypreference of substantial number and size. The induction tube does not,by preference, extend completely through the container 7, but is spacedfrom the end wall thereof containing the outlet connection. Disposed, bypreference, transversely of the container, and between the open outletend of the induction tube and the outlet end of the container, is afiltering material, pref erably a metallic screen 13. This screen ispreferably at least coextensive with the internal cross sectional areaof the container, so that all fluid entering the outlet fitting 9, musttraverse the screen. This screen is by further preference ofconcavoconvex aspect, having its convex side presented toward theinflowing stream. This arrangement aids in keeping the screen washedfree of accumulations, since its filtering face is disposed at an angleto the line of flow. A further advantage is found in that the screeningmaterial is thus mounted under no appreciable tension, and so resistsabrasion, resulting in a materially greater life.

As a means for readily relieving the filter of accumulated foreignsolids such as rust, scale, etc., I prefer to provide an internallythreaded fitting 14 provided with a threaded plug 15, which may, ifdesired, be provided with a gasket, (not shown).

It will appear from the foregoing that Water discharge from the jacket 3of the en gine, upon entering the fitting 8 and thereafter the tube 11,will tend to fill the container with water, and the flow being from leftto right in the figures, the water will pass through the screen 13 andthence out of the filter through the outlet fitting 9, to the radiator.

It has been found by experiment that a device of the present type willserve to a certain degree as a settling chamber so that even if thescreen 13 is omitted or becomes broken after a period of use, the deviceis still quite effective as a sediment trap. To the end of prolongingthe effective life of the screen 13, the apertures 12 tend to divide theincoming stream of water so that a great part thereof is diverted intothe lower part of the container 7 before encountering the screen.Without the provision of openings 12 scale and the like carried overfrom the motor, would be much more forcibly projected against thatport-ion of the screen extending between the end of tube 11 and theoutlet 9, and the effective life of the screen thereby shortened to acertain extent due to abrasion.

It will further appear that by disposing the inlet and outlet in theupper portion of the cylindrical container 7, by far the greater part ofthe space within the container is devoted to the reception of solidmatter, permitting a substantial accumulation thereof before cleaning isnecessary through the outlet fitting 14.

To remove the accumulation of solids from the tank 6 it is merelynecessary to remove the plug 15 from the fitting 14 which, being in thelowest portion of the container and being under a slight head ofpressure when the radiator is full, or nearly full, will be flushed outin a few moments time, without in any manner interfering with the established fluid connections of the circulating system.

The foregoing description has dealt with particularity, with a singlepreferred executioual embodiment of the invention. It will, of course beunderstood that a number of changes may be made in the various parts ofthe device as well as in the arrangement and combinations thereof,without departing from the spirit and intended scope of the invention,as defined by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A filtering device for automotive cooling systen'is, adapted forconnection in a radiator inlet line and including a cylindricalcontainer having its major axis arallel to said radiator line, andformed 0 sheet metal and provided at its opposite ends and in its upperportion with aligned openings forming a fluid passage therethrough, aconduit within the container, formed of perforate material, and disposedin line with said openings, and terminating within the container, aconcavo-convex filtering screen disposed between the open end of saidconduit and one of said openings, and having its convex surface facingthe open end of said conduit, said conduit being of increased diameterfrom its inlet to an open discharge end, and disposed with its dischargeend extended. toward said screen, but in spaced relation thereto. adrainage fitting in the lower portion of said container, and adetachable closure for said drainage opening.

2. In a fluid filter, for automotive cooling systems. and the like, anelongate casing having its axis parallel to the radiator inlet line, andprovided at its opposite ends with inlet and outlet openings in itsupper portion, a concave-convex screen disposed transversely of the lineof flow through said openings and having its concave surface facing saidoutlet opening, and a tube internal of the container and connected withsaid inlet opening for distributing fluid flow over the space within thecasing, said tube being formed of a perforate material of increaseddiameter toward its discharge end, and spaced from said screen at itspoint of discharge into the casing.

3. A water filter for accessory installation in an automotive coolingsystem, and including an elongate, cylindrical container having itsmajor axis disposed parallel to the line of flow to and from thecontainer, inlet and discharge fittings disposed in aligned relation inthe upper parts of opposite end walls of the container, a distributingconduit disposed within an upper portion of said container and alignedwith the intake fitting, said conduit being of tapered conformity, andperforated over its entire length and having its largest diameternearest the discharge fitting, a concave-convex filtering screenextending transversely of the I container, the filtering screen beingdis osed between the large diameter end o ai conduit and the end wall ofthe container having the discharge fitting therein, spaced from saidconduit and wall, and having its concave surface facin said wallanddischarge fitting, a dramage outlet substantially at the lowest portionof the container, and a removable closure for the drainage outlet.

and outlet fittings carried substantially at the uppermost portions ofopposite end walls of the container and parallel to its major axis, aninduction pipe associated with said inlet fitting and forming acontinuation thereof internally of the container, and lying closelyadjacent to the upper or outermost wall thereof, said conduit being offlared construction and increasing diameter from the inlet toward theoutlet fitting and terminating substantially short of the outletfitting, said conduit being perforated over its entire length andadapted for the distribution of incoming water about the interior of thecontainer, a concavo-convex metallic screen extending transversely ofsaid container and havin its concave surface spaced from and facing theoutlet end thereof, an annular grooved seat pressed in the containerwalls, for positioning said screen, a drainage fitting disposed atsubstantially the lowermost portion of the inlet end of the container,and a threaded closure for said drainage fitting.

THEODORE A. SCHOENLAU.

